Ignition system



C. MARCUS IGNITION SYSTEM April 1, 1930.

Filed Nov, 12, 1927 Isnventor Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CHARLES MARCUS, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINECOMPANY, OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK IGNITIONSYSTEM Application filed November 12, 1927. Serial No. 232,927

.15 means bein employed, after the engine is i started, to disconnectthe battery and to thereafter employ the magneto as a source of ignitioncurrent.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel means for supplyingignition current to an internal combustion engine during the startingoperation.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide means of the abovecharacter which is particularly adapted for supplying starting ignitioncurrent to an aeroplane motor.

Another object is to provide novel means,-

in combination with starting mechanism, for supplying ignition currentduring the start- 0 ing operation of an internal combustion engine, saidmeans thereafter being adapted to be disconnected.

Another object is to provide novel means, directly associated withstarting mechanism and a battery, for supplying starting current to aninternal combustion engine, said means being particularly adapted foruse in combustion with starters of the inertia type extensively employedfor starting aeroplane engines.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one embodiment of thepresent invention, the starting mechanism and a portion of the currentsupply means being shown in perspective, other portions of the currentsupply means being diagrammatically shown. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that these drawings are for purposes ofillustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits ofthe invention, reference being had'for this purpose to the appendedclaims.

In the form shown, the present invention -comprises, in combination withan engine starter of the inertia type, a source of current, such as abattery 1, adapted to supply the necessary ignition current for startingthe engine, a portion of the latter being shown in perspective at 2. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the starter mechanism comprises a hand crank3 adapted to be operatively connected to a shaft 4 carrying a worm 5adapted to mesh with a worm gear 6 which is operatively connected tosuitable'motion transmitting means for rotating the inertia element (notshown). Since devices .of this character are well known in the art, adetailed description of the same is unnecessary here, it being pointedout merely that while the shaft 4 is illustrated of the manuallyoperable type, it is to be understood that this shaft may be driven byother suitable means, such as an electric motor.

Means are provided for delivering current from the battery to the enginespark plugs (not shown), said means being combined with the startermechanism. Rigidly secured to shaft 4, adjacent one end thereof, is agear 7 which meshes with a pinion 8 carried on the end of a shaft 9, thelatter being rotatably mounted in bearings positioned in a housing 10secured to, or formed integrally with, the starter housing 11. Ifdesired, housing 10, 11 may comprise a portion adapted to enclose gears7 and 8.

A cam member 12 is fixedly attached to shaft 9 for rotation therewith.The member 12, which may be provided with any suitable number ofprojecting portions, is adapted to engage a contact arm 13 and swing thesame about a pivot member 14 suitably provided on the housing 10.,11,against the tension of a spring 15 which is secured, at one end, to saidarm and at its 0pposite end is fixedly attached to a projecting member16 that maybe mounted on the housing 10. Adapted to coact with contactarm 13 is a stationary contact member 17 to which is operativelyconnected the primary 18 of an induction coil, said primary beingconnected through a suitable switch 19 to the battery 1. In inductiverelation with coil 18 is a secondary coil 20 which is connected to thebattery intermediate primary .coil 18 and switch 19, as at 21, theopposite end of said secondary coil being operatively connected to thedistributor (not shown) for controlling the flow of ignition current tothe spark plugs in the engine cylinders. The battery, primary coil 18and contacts 13, 17 are preferably grounded as.

indicated at 22 and 23. If desired, a condenser 24 may be shunted acrossthe contacts 13 and 17 to prevent sparking.

When it is desired to start the engine the operator actuates crank 3 andshaft 4, wherebyenergy is stored in the inertia element of the starter.When the stored energy is utilized by throwing the starter into meshwith the crank shaft of the engine, switch 19 is closed to complete thecircuit through battery 1, contacts 13, 17 and primary coil 18. Rotationof shaft 4 is transmitted through gearing 7, 8 and shaft 9 to cam 12,whereuponcontacts 13, 17 are opened and closed to interrupt the flow ofcurrent from battery 1. This interrupting of the current delivered bybattery 1 induces a high potential current in the secondary coil 20 andthe current thus induced is led to the distributor and from thence tothe various spark plugs, whereby ignition current is provided forstarting the engine. Due to the gearing employed, cam 12 rotates at highspeed so that a number of current impulses are induced in thesecondarycoil 20 during the time that the distributor-arm passes eachcontact connected to the various spark plugs of the engine.

Since the distributor arm is drivably con-' nected to the engine crankshaft, proper timing of the ignition current in the cylinders iseffected. After the-engine is started, switch 19 is opened and theignition current is then supplied direct from the magneto, or othersuitable current generating means usually employed. It is customary toprovide a suitable battery in aeroplanes in order to supply current fornavigational lights, land lights, radio apparatus, etc., and by the useof the present invention this same battery may be utilized to providestarting current for the engine. The necessity for special ignitionapparatus for starting, which adds to the dead weight cuit with saidcontacts,

that must be carried by the plane, is thus largely eliminated.

The rotation of shaft 4 is relatively slow and gears 7 and 8 arepreferably so selected that shaft 9 will rotate at a relatively highspeed. Cam 12 is provided with a suitable number of projections toinsure that a selected number of sparks will be provided to the sparkplugs, via the distributor, for each compression stroke of the pistons.

Since the starter mechanism is in use only at the time of starting theengine, excessive wear is not thrown on gears 7, 8 and contacts 13, 17.The apparatus is extremely compact and avoids the necessity foremploying an additional magneto for starting purposes. The drivingmechanism for cam 12 may vary within wide limits, and the invention isnot limited to the use of any particular type of inertia starter.Practically no weight is dd;

" What is claimed is 1. In combination with'an engine starter, abattery, means including a cam mounted on and actuated by said starter,contacts controlled by said cam, an induction coil having the primarythereof in circuit with said contacts, and a switch for placing saidbattery in circuit with said primary and contacts.

Y 2. In combination with starting mechanism for an internal combustionengine, a shaft rotatably mounted on and adapted to be driven by saidstarting mechanism, a cam carried by said shaft, 9. source of currentsupply a circuit therefor, means actuated by said cam for making andbreakin said circult, and means for conducting tfie current to theengine for startin purposes.

3. In combination witE a starter for an internal combustion engine, abattery, a member rotatably mounted on said starter, means secured tosaid member and adapted to be driven by said starter, contacts adaptedto be opened by said member, yielding means carried by the starter forclosing said contacts, an induction coil having its primary in cirandswitch means for placing said battery in circuit with said primary.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanismtherefor, and means 'fonsupplying ignition current to the engine duringthe operation of said startmg mechanism, said means comprising a cammounted on and adapted to be driven by said starting mechanism, abattery, and means tension current from the battery glue.

to the en- 5. In combination with a starter, of the inertia type,for'internal combustion engines, a shaft for storing energy in theinertia element of said starter,-means including a cam adapted to bedriven by said shaft, a pair of contacts adapted to be opened by saidcam, yielding means for normally maintaining said contacts inengagement, and current supply means controlled by said contacts forsupplying starting current to the engine.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

CHARLES MARCUS.

